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Imagion teams up with Wayne State University for AI push into cancer detection
Imagion to collaborate with MRI experts at Wayne State University to strengthen push into AI-enabled cancer diagnostics
Collaboration will establish optimised imaging protocols for Imagion's MagSense molecular-imaging-agent tech
Bolsters relationship Imagion has with Siemens Healthineers, the leading manufacturer of MRI equipment
Special Report : Imagion Biosystems has strengthened its push into AI-enabled cancer diagnostics through a new collaboration with leading MRI experts at Wayne State University School of Medicine in the US.
Imagion Biosystem (ASX:IBX) has signed a collaborative service agreement with Dr Mark Haacke and Dr Sagar Bush to establish optimised imaging protocols for its proprietary MagSense molecular imaging agent technology.
The collaboration further bolsters the existing relationship Imagion has with Siemens Healthineers, the world's leading manufacturer of MRI equipment.
Both researchers have had a long-standing collaboration with Siemens and are equipped with its top-of-the-line scanners.
The research will focus on quantitative MRI sequences compatible with Siemens and other commercially available MRI scanners.
By combining advanced quantitative imaging with the MagSense agents, Imagion aims to enable AI-based interpretation and deliver more accurate and precise data cancer detection and patient care.
With Siemens' backing, Imagion plans to incorporate the optimised MRI sequences developed by the leading researcher into its upcoming phase II clinical trial for its HER2 breast cancer imaging agent.
Other key objectives of the collaborative service agreement also include: Determining the lowest dose of the MagSense imaging agent to achieve detection
Establish MRI sequences and protocols optimised for MagSense
Transferring the optimised protocols to clinical sites for use in the planned MagSense HER2 Phase 2 study
Using quantitative imaging techniques that could net AI compatible image data to improve diagnostic accuracy 'Exciting development for the medical imaging field'
Haacke has been a pioneer in the field of quantitative MRI for decades. Collaboration with his team is set to lay the foundation for future automated analysis of MagSense images using AI.
By implementing quantitative MR imaging techniques, Imagion said the specific signature of MagSense imaging agents will be uniquely detectable in affected tissue.
By applying advanced post-processing techniques and AI interpretation to these images, MagSense has potential to enable not only automatic detection and differentiation of normal versus cancerous tissue, but also improved staging, tracking and treatment monitoring.
'Imagion's MagSense imaging agents are a very exciting development for the medical imaging field as it finally brings molecular specificity to MRI,' said Haacke.
'I have spent decades developing quantitative, high-resolution imaging to identify new biomarkers and explore disease etiology.
'Working with Imagion is a natural extension of that work, adding increased specificity to the already high resolution and sensitivity of MRI and powering the future of AI-based diagnostics.' Listen : Tim Boreham interviews IBX Solving a key barrier holding back AI diagnostics
Imagion said conventional MRI, while producing excellent images of soft tissue, is qualitative by nature.
This means it relies on subjective interpretation by radiologists to make a diagnostic determination based on differences in contrast of the various tissues.
As a result, imaging findings still require confirmatory biopsies to achieve diagnostic certainty, creating challenges in analysing small lesions or early-stage disease.
The lack of specificity is considered a fundamental hurdle for radiologic AI models, limited in their diagnostic capability due to subjectivity of the training data and accuracy of the readers' interpretation.
Quantitative imaging, on the other hand, provides specific information about tissue characteristics on a pixel-by-pixel basis.
These imaging techniques can measure precise amounts of elements such as iron, water, calcium, or fat in each region of interest.
Imagion said that combining quantitative MRI sequences with its MagSense imaging agent could overcome one of the biggest obstacles to AI in medical imaging.
MagSense particles attach to cancer cells, creating a unique, measurable signal that can be distinguished from healthy tissue automatically.
This could lead to earlier and more accurate cancer diagnoses, reduce differences in how individual radiologists interpret scans, and make advanced imaging available beyond specialised medical centres
The company said including these quantitative sequences in its phase II trial for HER2 breast cancer will accelerate development of AI diagnostics by providing early data to train and refine AI models. Exciting time for Imagion
Imagion chief business officer Ward Detwiler said the company was very excited to have the collaboration and support of Haacke's research team.
'Dr Haacke literally wrote the book on MRI, which anyone in the MRI space will recognise as required reading,' he said.
'Combining their knowledge and expertise in quantitative MRI with the specificity of our targeted MagSense imaging agents, we believe we can significantly improve the diagnostic utility of the images by introducing quantitative data to enable precise, AI-based detection.'
This article was developed in collaboration with Imagion Biosystems, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
Originally published as Imagion teams up with Wayne State University for AI push into cancer detection
